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STARGUARD Exam Study Guide | 100% Correct
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What is the difference between a rule and a policy? - ✔✔A rule applies to every person using an aquatic facility. A policy is for specific circumstances or situations that may not apply to everyone. To be effective, rules should be - ✔✔Written in a clear, concise language, enforced the same way each time, and posted in a visible location. Which of the layers of protection helps guide decisions and serves as a rule for specific circumstances? - ✔✔Policies and procedures. A policy that requires non-swimmers to stay in waist-deep water may reduce the risk of drowning. - ✔✔True What are three ways to minimize the risk of injury in an aquatic facility? - ✔✔Inspect for hazards, eliminate known hazards, and enforce rules. Swimmers should not be allowed to participate in breath-holding or underwater swimming contests. - ✔✔True In an aquatic facility, slipping and falling is usually caused by - ✔✔running. The StarGuard Risk Management Model consists of the following: - ✔✔prevention, surveillance, respond and rescue, emergency care, workplace expectations. What is a good course of action if the behavior of another person is suspicious enough for you to be concerned? - ✔✔Notify your supervisor and call for police assistance. What does RWI stand for? - ✔✔Recreational Water Illness.
Personal protection equipment (PPE) should, at a minimum, include which items? - ✔✔Disposable gloves, barrier (CPR) mask, protective eyewear, and footwear. Why is disease more likely to be transmitted through loose stools (diarrhea), rather than a solid stool? - ✔✔If a person is ill with diarrhea, the stool can contain millions of germs that spread quickly through the water. What would you do if you were using standard (universal) precautions? - ✔✔Consider and treat all bodily fluids and bodily substances as through they were contaminated. What is the proper ratio of bleach to water for a solution that will be used to clean up bodily fluids and fecal matter on surfaces around the pool? - ✔✔1 part bleach to 9 parts water If a break in your skin is directly exposed to a patron's bodily fluids, what is the first thing you should do?
- ✔✔Wash the area with soap and water. Which of the following are germs that can cause recreational water illness? - ✔✔Norovirus, cryptosporidium, E. coli, and giardia. Occupational exposure to blood or the bodily fluids from another person puts you at risk for which diseases? - ✔✔HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV) What should you assume about blood and other body fluids from all persons? - ✔✔The fluids are potentially infectious. How long has the parasite cryptosporidium been known to survive, even in properly maintained swimming pool water? - ✔✔Up to 11 days. What is the difference between distress and drowning? - ✔✔A person is drowning if the face and airway (mouth and nose) are covered with water and the head cannot be lifted or brought to the surface to breathe.
A person who is unresponsive under the water will be completely motionless. - ✔✔False What conditions can cause a person who is under the water to be hidden from view? - ✔✔Ripples on the surface caused by wind, water movement caused by people, glare from the angle of the sun, and reflection off of windows. If you interrupt the drowning process by making a rescue, a person may begin to spontaneously breathe by herself, or you may need to give rescue breaths. - ✔✔True To recognize distress or drowning, which three crucial observation skills must you continuously perform?
- ✔✔Scan, target, and assess What risk area is the most urgent, and where should you look first while scanning 3-dimensionally? - ✔✔At the bottom of the pool. If you are providing constant and dedicated surveillance, how often should you watch your zone? - ✔✔All of the time, regardless of distractions or assigned tasks What should determine the size and location of a zone? - ✔✔Ability to see every area of the zone and respond to rescue within about 30 seconds. If a rescue occurs when several lifeguards are scanning adjacent zones, which lifeguard usually would take over surveillance of the rescuer's zone? - ✔✔The lifeguard to the rescuer's left, unless another plan is in place. When does a proactive rotation begin? - ✔✔When you begin to proceed to your lifeguard station. What is a zone? - ✔✔The 3-dimensional area of the water you are assigned to scan. If you scan too fast, you will not be able to assess what you see. - ✔✔True
What is scanning? - ✔✔Searching the water in a systematic way. What should you target and assess when you scan? - ✔✔Anyone whose face or body is under the water, anything out of the ordinary, anything on the bottom, and symptoms of distress. What is one way to make posture and position changes to help you stay alert and vigilant? - ✔✔Switch between sitting, standing, and strolling about every 5 minutes. The ability to remain focused starts to decrease significantly after about 30 minutes. - ✔✔True What is an advantage to using drowning detection technology such as an underwater camera system? - ✔✔It can enhance a lifeguard's ability to see under the water. Which is true of communication signals at most aquatic facilities? - ✔✔They are a combination of hand signal and whistle blasts known and understood by all staff. A lifeguard should be considered part of the prehospital system of care, along with EMS and other responders. - ✔✔True What is a critical link in the chain of survival for an unresponsive drowning victim? - ✔✔Distress recognition Cell phones don't always show phone numbers and addresses to emergency medical dispatchers. - ✔✔True What is the most important thing to do when calling 9- 1 - 1 or your local emergency number? - ✔✔Listen carefully to the dispatcher. If you think someone is experiencing a medical emergency, but you aren't sure, what should you do? - ✔✔Call 9- 1 - 1 and let the dispatch center help you determine the need for response.
When making a rear rescue, you should - ✔✔Keep the rescue tube at your chest. What is a benefit of a leg-wrap rescue? - ✔✔There is no upper-body-to-upper-body contact with a drowning victim, the lifeguard maintains control of the rescue tube, the lifeguard doesn't need to submerge as far to make a rescue. To avoid injury to yourself when making a rear rescue - ✔✔turn your head before making contact When performing a leg wrap, you must swim to the surface, holding the drowning person, and then place him or her on the rescue tube. - ✔✔False The primary objective of a multiple-person rescue is to - ✔✔maintain your safety. If you notice a person having a seizure in the water - ✔✔hold the person's head above water so he or she can breathe. A fast and effective method to help a distressed swimmer who is still responsive and within arm's reach is a - ✔✔land-based assist. If a struggling person grabs you around the neck, why is it a good idea to submerge under the water with the person? - ✔✔He will likely let go, because his objective is to stay on the surface. Before releasing a person back into the facility after a rescue, which TWO important things should you do? - ✔✔Provide safety instructions so the person knows how to avoid another rescue situation and provide warning and instructions to watch for excessive cough, difficulty breathing, or any other worrisome symptoms that develop within 8 hours after the incident and to seek medical care immediately if these develop. Spinal injuries can result if a person forcefully strikes his or her - ✔✔head, neck, and back.
Events that could cause trauma in an aquatic environment include forcefully hitting the head, neck, or back on - ✔✔the pool wall or edge, the bottom (pool or shoreline), and/or another person or hard object. What might prevent a facedown person with a spinal injury from being able to roll over in the water? - ✔✔Paralysis When performing a vise grip, your hands should be located on the injured person's - ✔✔upper arms. No research studies have proven that immobilizing a person with a suspected spinal injury is beneficial; in fact, many studies show that immobilization on a backboard can actually cause harm. - ✔✔True Injury to the cervical spine or spinal cord has been found to be made worse by movements the injured person makes after the initial impact has occurred. - ✔✔False Strapping a person on a backboard and placing head immobilization devices (HIDs) for the sole purpose of immobilizing the spine is NOT an evidence-based practice. - ✔✔True In addition to head, neck, or back pain, which additional symptoms indicate the potential for spinal injury? - ✔✔Numbness or tingling, serious trauma anywhere on the body (distracting injury), intoxication, and/or altered mental status. Which term may be used to describe a person who is experiencing any or all of these symptoms: confusion, slowed thinking, loss of balance, impaired vision? - ✔✔Altered mental status What is the proper way to provide passive spinal motion restriction? - ✔✔Tell the person not to make any movements that cause pain and guide her to a seated or lying position. What is the proper way to provide active spinal motion restriction? - ✔✔Manually hold the person's head to limit movement.
You are attending to a responsive accident victim who has blood gushing out of a large wound in his leg. What should you do to control the bleeding? - ✔✔Apply direct pressure with an absorbent pad until bleeding stops. When dragging a person in an emergency, what should you NOT do? - ✔✔Pull the person sideways, or pull the head away from the neck and shoulders. An injured person is restless, shivering, and his tissue color is pale. He is pleading with you for a drink of water. What should you do while waiting for EMS? - ✔✔Do not give him anything to drink, and maintain normal body temperature. You are called to attend to a coworker who collapsed while lifeguarding on a hot day. He has an altered mental status and his skin is hot and sweaty. EMS has been called. What should you do? - ✔✔Aggressively cool his body by pouring water, fanning, and applying ice packs. You are responding to a scene where there are multiple people injured. How can you determine who is in the most immediate need of care to prevent loss of life? - ✔✔Immediately treat those who have profuse bleeding. When giving rescue breathing to an infant with an obvious pulse, you should give one breath every - ✔✔3 to 5 seconds Chest compressions should be administered to adults, children, and infants at what rate? - ✔✔at least 100 but not more than 120 times per minute When two or more rescuers are administering CPR to a child, they should give rescue breaths every - ✔✔15 compressions When giving compressions, you should keep your hands, arms, and shoulders - ✔✔in line, with the arms straight, the elbows locked, and the shoulders over the hands. Chest compressions are most effective when you - ✔✔push hard and push fast
When giving chest compressions, what should you be sure to do after each push? - ✔✔Release the pressure so the chest can completely recoil. While the AED is analyzing a victim's heart rhythm, the rescuers should be - ✔✔not touching the person (staying clear). When a person is unresponsive, what do gasping, snorting, or gurgling sounds indicate? - ✔✔The person is not breathing normally, and rescue breathing and compressions should be continued. What is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)? - ✔✔malfunction of the heart's electrical system What is secondary cardiac arrest? - ✔✔heart stoppage resulting from lack of oxygen How can you tell if rescue breaths are going into a person's lungs? - ✔✔The chest will visibly rise. A person who is choking becomes unresponsive, and you begin CPR. What should you do after each set of compressions? - ✔✔Look in the mouth and remove any visible object What is the objective in managing an unresponsive drowning victim? - ✔✔open the airway as quickly as possible and begin rescue breaths Why is placing an unresponsive person on his or her back over a rescue tube an excellent setup for giving rescue breaths in the water? - ✔✔The flotation holds the person at the surface of the water, the person's head drops back into an open airway position, and the rescuer can still swim toward the takeout point. When performing rescue breathing in the water, where should you position yourself? - ✔✔behind the person's head When performing rescue breathing in the water, you should - ✔✔keep swimming toward the takeout point.
When should lifeguards trained in the use of emergency oxygen deliver it to an unresponsive drowning person? - ✔✔when it is available Why is it important to practice drowning scenarios in which the victim is unresponsive? - ✔✔to develop a coordinated high-performance team response A good strategy to help relieve emotional distress following an unresponsive drowning incident is to - ✔✔do some form of physical activity. In the United States, it is becoming common for EMS to do this when they arrive: - ✔✔provide care on site until the person becomes conscious or is pronounced dead. If you work outdoors, you are at risk for developing skin cancer. - ✔✔True Your personal safety in the workplace is just as important as that of the patrons. - ✔✔True When should you take the time to conduct a 30-second site safety survey? - ✔✔Before beginning a job task. What does three points of contact refer to? - ✔✔Maintaining contact with two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand when climbing up to or down from a lifeguard station. What should you do to avoid skin chafing and urinary tract infections? - ✔✔remove wet swimwear frequently Which of the following influence your ability to project a professional image to others? - ✔✔The way you talk and act, the way you dress, and the attitude and skill with which you perform your duties. Twirling a whistle takes away from a professional image. - ✔✔True
Which statement is true about a lifeguard review (audit)? - ✔✔It provides an accurate picture of how well you focus on the important aspects of your job and helps identify areas for improvement. Your employer should provide you with site-specific orientation, training, supplies, and support to do your job. - ✔✔True Calling in at the last minute to say you won't be at work, not finding an approved substitute, and not showing up for work without notifying your supervisor can all compromise the safety of everyone at the facility. - ✔✔True What does a "rescue-ready" fitness level mean for a pool, waterpark, or waterfront lifeguard? - ✔✔You maintain the physical ability to perform effective CPR compressions, descend to the deepest area, and swim to the furthest point in the areas you are assigned at your workplace. What is a good strategy when communicating with a person with a disability at your facility? - ✔✔Don't make assumptions, and talk to the person the way you would want someone to talk to you. Animals may be allowed on the pool deck if - ✔✔they are trained to assist a person who has a medical condition or disability. Having a lifeguard on duty during swim team practice is not necessary, because everyone in the pool knows how to swim. - ✔✔False You are asked to lifeguard an open-water race or triathlon. At a minimum, what should you do to prepare? - ✔✔Practice scenarios with the rescue team. If you are the only lifeguard on duty, who will you need to direct and rely on for help during an emergency? - ✔✔Nonaquatic personnel, and bystanders who may be available. You've been asked to lifeguard at a child's birthday party that will be held at a local hotel. What should you do? - ✔✔Define expectations and get a release from liability in writing before the event.
The impression that guests have of their experience at a waterpark will have a lot to do with - ✔✔the professional image and example set by the lifeguards. Why might you need to walk or stand while scanning at a waterpark attraction? - ✔✔To be able to see around curves, play structures, or waterfalls. A swimming or beachfront area enclosed by lines, docks, or piers within an open body of water is called a(n) - ✔✔restricted waterfront. Frequent site inspections at waterfront areas are important because conditions often change over time. - ✔✔True Having mask, fins, and snorkel gear may be helpful at waterfronts because this equipment - ✔✔will help you locate and reach victims faster. When feasible, nonswimmers in waterfront settings should be restricted to water that is less than what depth? - ✔✔waist deep. When screening patrons to assign them to swimming or nonswimming areas, your objective should be to have patrons - ✔✔demonstrate to you in a measurable way that their swimming ability is appropriate for the activity. The purpose of swim skill testing is to - ✔✔identify people who don't have the endurance or ability to keep their heads comfortably above water without a life jacket. While performing a bottom search wearing goggles or mask, a snorkel, and fins, you should - ✔✔keep your hands forward and sweep them to the sides to feel for a victim. A missing-person emergency action plan should include - ✔✔a designated staging area for all staff and bystanders, two groups of searchers: one to immediately begin a water search, another to search the land, and a specific signal to indicate a missing-person situation.
The protected water entry should be used when entering the water from - ✔✔water level. A one-rescuer assist can be used for extricating a person at shoreline when the person - ✔✔is responsive and can walk. A two-person extremity carry can be used on someone who is responsive or unresponsive. - ✔✔True What is a good prevention and surveillance strategy for waterfronts where docks or floating platforms are present? - ✔✔Prohibit people from swimming under docks or platforms. What is turbid water? - ✔✔Water that is murky or dark. Which of the following includes all of the requirements for an oxygen system to be approved for emergency use in the United States? - ✔✔ When attached to an oxygen cylinder, what does the regulator control? - ✔✔Rate of oxygen flow. What is an important safe-handling practice for emergency oxygen systems? - ✔✔Do not use oil, grease, or adhesive tape on or near the system. Why must emergency oxygen be stored away from heat, spark, flame, and explosive environments? - ✔✔It is a compressed gas that supports combustion when flame or spark are present. When available, why is it beneficial to administer emergency oxygen to a person who is unresponsive due to drowning? - ✔✔It increases the amount of oxygen delivered to the person. Which of the following is needed to connect a bag mask (BVM) or CPR mask to an emergency oxygen system? - ✔✔Intel port. Why should the valve on the oxygen system be cracked (opened slightly, then closed) before attaching the regulator? - ✔✔To expel foreign matter from the outlet port of the valve.
The impression that the guests have of their experience at a waterpark will have a lot to do with - ✔✔the professional image and example set by the lifeguards. What should you do to perform high-quality, effective chest compressions? - ✔✔Push hard and push fast (100-120 times per minute), but don't lean on the chest between compressions. You are attending to a responsive teenager injured after falling off the diving board stairs. He has sharp pain and swelling in the right leg, and the leg looks strangely bent. EMS has been activated. What should you do? - ✔✔Manually stabilize the injured leg. Which is an accurate statement about how to make a front rescue? - ✔✔Push the rescue tube firmly into the person's chest. Why is disease more likely to be transmitted through loose stools (diarrhea) rather than a solid stool? - ✔✔Diarrhea can contain millions of germs that spread quickly through the water. In addition to head, neck, or back pain; intoxication; altered mental status; and numbness or tingling, which additional symptom indicates the potential for spinal injury? - ✔✔Serious trauma anywhere on the body (distracting injury). Lifeguards are the first link in the drowning chain of survival, and they should be considered part of the prehospital system of care, along with EMS and other responders. - ✔✔True You are providing care to a responsive person who has been injured. Blood is streaming out of a large wound in the leg. What should you do to control the bleeding? - ✔✔Apply direct pressure with an absorbent pad until the bleeding stops. What should you do when performing rescue breathing in the water? - ✔✔Swim toward the takeout point with the person. You find one of your coworkers sitting in the break room alone. His skin is pale and sweaty. When you ask if he is okay, he tells you it feels like a heavy weight is on his chest. He also tells you he is having trouble catching his breath. What should you do? - ✔✔Allow him to find a position of comfort and activate EMS.
You are attending to a person who is unresponsive but is breathing normally after a suspected overdose of pain medication. EMS has been activated. You have placed the person in a recovery position. Why? - ✔✔To maintain and protect the airway. A crucially important fact for lifeguards to be aware of at all times is that - ✔✔drowning can happen quickly and silently to anyone at any time. How is passive spinal motion restriction provided? - ✔✔Tell the person not to make any movements that cause pain and guide her to a seated or lying position. Which of these statements is true? - ✔✔The objective of using a rescue tube during a water rescue is to minimize body-to-body contact between yourself and a distressed swimmer or drowning victim. You are called to attend to a coworker who collapsed while life guarding on a hot day. He has an altered mental status and his skin is hot and sweaty. EMS has been activated. What should you do? - ✔✔Aggressively cool his body by pouring water, fanning, and applying ice packs. Why is it important to begin rescue breathing for an unresponsive drowning person as quickly as possible? - ✔✔To prevent or minimize brain damage. If an unresponsive drowning person may look similar to people who are floating or are underwater and are okay, what can you do to tell them apart? - ✔✔Look to see that the person lifts his or her head to breathe within a few seconds. What ratio of bleach to water should you use when preparing a solution to clean up bodily fluids and fecal matter on surfaces around the pool? - ✔✔1 part bleach to 9 parts water After early recognition, what is the next critical link in the chain of survival for an unresponsive drowning person? - ✔✔Early rescue breathing What should you do to rescue a person who is having a seizure in the water? - ✔✔Hold the person's head above water so he or she can breathe.
